Lieutenant Dan

A question for you short-liners out there related to this and what I have noticed with some of the other 1/4 speed videos.....I've noticed that there is a transition at the end of the turn from somewhat of a "wheelie" to getting the ski to get angle across course. How is this accomplished? Is it by closing the hips in the direction you want to go? Is it loading up the trailing arm? Is it shoulders back? A combination of all of these things?

Dan Bueche, 53 years old from Cincinnati, OH area. Been lurking here for several years. Love the site. Have skied since I was 10 but only recently have had access to a slalom course. I ski at "Extreme Watersports Center" which has several lakes and 3 courses. Married with two boys, one, 17, who only does "wake sports" and the other, 15, who could be an excellent slalom skier but would rather chase girls, go figure. I am slowly getting better a bit every year. Made my first complete passes through 34 mph/15 off last summer and made a number of 22 offs this summer. Hope to conquer 28 off next year. Glad to still be doing this at 53 and getting better. My boat is an '01 Malibu Sunsetter LXI....the best all-around watersports boat Malibu ever made. Ski is a Radar Vice which I am growing to love.

Dan Bueche, 53 years old from Cincinnati, OH area. Been lurking here for several years. Love the site. Have skied since I was 10 but only recently have had access to a slalom course. I ski at "Extreme Watersports Center" which has several lakes and 3 courses. Married with two boys, one, 17, who only does "wake sports" and the other, 15, who could be an excellent slalom skier but would rather chase girls, go figure. I am slowly getting better a bit every year. Made my first complete passes through 34 mph/15 off last summer and made a number of 22 offs this summer. Hope to conquer 28 off next year. Glad to still be doing this at 53 and getting better. My boat is an '01 Malibu Sunsetter LXI....the best all-around watersports boat Malibu ever made. Ski is a Radar Vice which I am growing to love.

Its been a looooooong time since I finished engineering school so I don't remember the details, but, I would guess that these steps disrupt the "boundary layer" on the bottom of the ski and thereby reduce drag. This is the same reason that golf balls have dimples or why they put "turbulators" on aircraft wings.

I tend to conserve my funds a bit when upgrading equipment. Have been on a CDX for a while and want to go to newer technology. Have been reading such good things about the Radar MPD e.g. from 2008 ski tests and thought I'd like to try one. Radar Outlet has them at a super price. I ordered a 68" (same as what I'm skiing now) but wondering if 67" is better. Stats: 51 years old, 6'0" height, 185 - 190 lbs. Slalom PB is 3 at 34 mph / 22 off. What do you think? Stick with 68" or go shorter?